Siege of Giza

The Siege of Giza Greco-Ottoman War Greek Attackers cap banner at Giza Date 8/02/2022-8/05/2022 (3 Days) Location Giza, Egypt Result Egyptian Victory Status Territorial changes Beginning of the Decline of Greece Belligerents The Kingdom of Greece Islamic Egypt The Ottoman Empire Commanders and leaders arescartier Appqle Strength Casualties and losses

Background

The Greco-Ottoman War, one of the most defining conflicts in EarthPol history, first ignited during the Great War of Version 4. Tensions between the two powers only escalated after defeat of Deutschland at the Siege of Linz, where SQPR forces secured a decisive victory. As Version 5 (V5) began, the wounds of V4 had not healed — and the Greek people, especially their leadership, were determined to seek revenge and restore their honor.

Over the course of several weeks, Greece focused heavily on military buildup, recruiting fighters, constructing infrastructure, and preparing for future conflicts. However, this preparation soon led to boredom and unrest within Greece’s powerful PvP clan, Vespa, whose members grew impatient and began demanding action. Many Vespa fighters pushed for an immediate offensive, regardless of strategy or diplomacy.

Despite early efforts to delay aggression, King arescartier eventually gave in to the pressure and moved forward with war planning. The target was chosen carefully: Islamic Egypt, a nation directly south of Greece and a loyal ally of the Ottomans, presented both a strategic and symbolic opportunity. Striking Islamic Egypt would send a clear message to the Ottomans and fulfill Vespa’s desire for battle. Thus began the preparations for what would become the Siege of Giza, the first major battle of the Greco-Ottoman War in V5.

Conflict

Day 1

Siege Assembly: The Siege of Giza began on August 2nd, 2022 at 8:23 PM EST, marking the opening battle of the Greco-Ottoman War on EarthPol. The conflict was initiated when the Kingdom of Greece, alongside their military outpost New_Sparta, launched a surprise siege against the city of Giza, held by the nation of Islamic Egypt. Greece deployed an overwhelming force of 42 online players, while Islamic Egypt had only 3 players online at the time. The siege began with the placement of the Greek banner, officially triggering the siege assembly phase. During this phase, Greek forces rapidly constructed fortifications using netherrack and other easily accessible blocks. These makeshift defenses allowed the attackers to secure territory and prepare for the siege itself. The sheer difference in manpower and the surprise of the banner drop gave Greece a significant early advantage. Despite being outnumbered, the defenders attempted to delay construction and resist the attackers as best they could during the assembly phase.

As military equipment was given to Greek troops, RomanDiCario scammed Greece by temporarily joining the Greek army to receive a free diamond armor set, including potions, before leaving the nation shortly thereafter.

Islamic Egypt and the Ottoman Response: Appqle, hearing of the invasion, then reached out to Skippz_ and Apigale, the leaders of the Ottomans, and asked for their protection and help in defending against the Greeks. They obliged and began to plan their defense of Giza, marking the beginning of Ottoman involvement in the war and the start of a broader Greco-Ottoman conflict.

Day 2

The second day of the Siege of Giza marked a dramatic turning point in the conflict, as Greece began to lose the overwhelming advantage it had gained at the outset. Having started the day with a lead of 46,090 siege points, the Greeks saw their advantage rapidly collapse to 17,940 points by the end of the day, a devastating loss that signaled the beginning of their downfall.

Greek Logistics: One of the primary issues plaguing the Greek side was their supply line crisis. As troops died during battle, they frequently dropped their potions and gear, unintentionally supplying the Ottomans with resources. These looted items were quickly recycled and redistributed to Ottoman fighters, allowing their forces to become stronger with each Greek death. The Greeks struggled to maintain potion supplies to keep up with the demands of war, and their ability to equip fresh fighters dwindled. Additionally, the number of Greek fighters online dropped significantly, falling from their initial 30 to 40 players to just 14 to 15 troops at a time. Meanwhile, the Ottoman coalition surged as more players were rallied into battle. Volunteers from allied nations flooded the frontlines to support the Ottoman defense, bolstering their ranks and shifting the tide of war. Greek coordination began to fall apart as well. A large portion of their fighters were unable to join the Greek voice chat, forcing them to communicate solely through in-game chat. This breakdown in communication severely hampered their ability to strategize and respond quickly to battlefield developments.

Espionage: To make matters worse for the Greeks, it was discovered that Senator lucqent, a prominent member of their political leadership, was acting as a spy for the Ottomans. He was promptly expelled from the Greek government and went on to found the state of Cyrenaica. Despite this, lucqent maintained a close relationship with MrTytanic, another influential Greek senator and the next in line for the Greek throne, raising concerns about lingering influence and trust within Greek leadership.

By the end of Day 2, what had once looked like a swift and overwhelming Greek victory had turned into a grinding and uncertain siege. The Ottomans, once on the defensive, now stood emboldened, with momentum shifting steadily in their favor.

Day 3

Giza Victory: Day 3 of the Siege of Giza marked the total collapse of the Greek war effort. What started as a confident invasion had become a disaster. In just 24 hours, Greece's siege score dropped from 17,940 to -41,030, a massive swing that handed the Ottomans a dominant defensive victory. The defending town of Giza declared victory at 8:39 PM EST on August 5, 2022, officially ending the battle. Greece was forced to pay 2,055 gold as war reparations, rubbing salt in an already deep wound.

Greek Perspective: Greek morale was shattered. They had not only lost the battle but been humiliated in front of the entire server. The Ottomans, who had started as the underdogs, completely outplayed and outlasted their attackers. The Greeks severely underestimated their opponents, both in coordination and resilience. By the end of the siege, Greece was suffering a massive equipment shortage and had no way to resupply its troops with potions or gear. The Ottomans, on the other hand, were thriving off of looted gear from fallen Greek soldiers.

In a last-ditch effort to hold the army together, Greek leadership started handing out military ranks to anyone who stuck around. Players with no PvP experience like iboxvx were suddenly in charge, despite having little to no understanding of what they were doing. It was a clear sign that leadership was grasping at straws. Furthermore, the Greek Senate erupted in civil conflict. Senators turned on each other, arguing over who was responsible for the decision to invade Egypt and how such a massive blunder had been allowed to happen. Some demanded exiles, others fought for praise, and trust within the Senate collapsed.

Global Condemnation: The aftermath of the siege rippled far beyond Giza. Greece’s aggressive and poorly justified attack sparked global outrage across the EarthPol server. Many nations openly condemned the invasion, calling it an unnecessary and unjustified war driven by arrogance rather than strategy. The global community rallied behind the Ottomans, praising their resilience and unity in the face of overwhelming odds. Even players and nations who had no prior allegiance to either side expressed support for Giza’s defenders.

This wave of condemnation accelerated the collapse of Greece's diplomatic standing. The Protectorate Pact, Greece's primary alliance network, formally disbanded as member states distanced themselves from the failed campaign. One by one, Greece’s allies began to back away, embarrassed by the poor planning and appalled by the recklessness of the leadership. Trust in Greek diplomacy all but evaporated, and the nation found itself increasingly isolated on the world stage.

Meanwhile, the Ottomans capitalized on their rising reputation, forming a new alliance with MonteNEGO and beginning preparations for a counteroffensive aimed at the Greek city of Larissa. What was meant to be a Greek show of strength had turned into a moment of international disgrace.

Tactics

Greece: The Greek strategy revolved around brute force and overwhelming numbers. Their goal was simple: flood the battlefield with as many fighters as possible to secure the siege banner quickly and decisively. This tactic relied heavily on mass coordination and assumed that sheer manpower would be enough to dominate the defenders. Greek troops rushed forward in waves, attempting to overwhelm Giza’s defenses with raw aggression rather than precision.

Ottomans: In stark contrast, the Ottomans employed a much more refined and adaptive approach. Rather than meeting the Greeks head-on with equal numbers (which they lacked), they deployed small, agile groups of elite fighters who relied on coordination and mobility. These Ottoman strike teams focused on isolating individual Greek fighters who had splintered off from the main group. Once isolated, these targets were picked off one by one — often with the very gear the Greeks had lost in previous engagements.

This “divide and conquer” approach proved devastating. The Ottomans were not just killing enemies; they were looting them and turning their gear against the rest of the Greek army. As the battle wore on, the Ottoman fighters became increasingly better equipped — with many now using Greek diamond armor, weapons, and potions.

These small but highly skilled Ottoman squads — often numbering just 2-4 fighters — exploited the disorganized and bloated Greek ranks. They struck at flanks, intercepted reinforcements, and sowed chaos behind enemy lines. What the Greeks thought would be a straightforward siege devolved into a tactical nightmare as their ranks were steadily dismantled.

Logistics

Greece: Greece’s logistics system was not built for a sustained conflict. Their plan hinged on a quick victory. When that didn’t happen, the cracks in their supply chain began to show. Greek fighters consumed potions and lost gear at an unsustainable rate. When soldiers died, their equipment was often left behind or scavenged by the enemy. This meant that every Greek death not only reduced their numbers but strengthened the Ottoman ranks.

Additionally, the Greek military placed an enormous strain on its own resources by deploying such a large army all at once. The rush to supply 30–40 players with gear, potions, and food in a short time frame overwhelmed their storage and production capacity. Replacements were rushed, disorganized, and poorly equipped.

Ottomans: The Ottomans, by contrast, kept a tight and steady supply line. Their numbers were smaller, but this meant they could afford to take better care of each individual soldier. Their supply caches were not depleted as quickly, and thanks to battlefield scavenging, their gear quality improved as the fight dragged on. The Ottomans didn’t just hold their lines — they grew stronger over time.

Furthermore, the Greek reliance on voice chat for coordination — while potentially powerful — backfired when many fighters were unable to join. This created a logistical headache where leaders had to micromanage equipment distribution and strategy via in-game chat, leading to confusion and delays. The Ottomans, using a tighter-knit and smaller group, communicated efficiently and made decisions quickly.

Aftermath & Significance

The Decline of Greece

The failure at Giza marked a turning point not just in the war, but in the broader trajectory of Greek power on EarthPol. Despite launching the siege with a staggering numerical advantage—42 Greek players online against just 3 defenders—the outcome was a humiliating and decisive defeat. The largest nation on the server at the time, Greece’s loss to the smaller Islamic_Egypt and Ottoman-aligned defenders was more than just a tactical misstep; it was a symbolic unraveling of an empire that had appeared invincible.

The defeat shattered Greek morale. Once feared as a juggernaut, the Greek military machine was exposed as poorly coordinated and overly reliant on sheer numbers. Their organizational weakness under pressure turned what should have been an overwhelming victory into a catastrophic rout. Confidence in the Greek leadership, particularly in the once-revered figure of arescartier, plummeted. Allies began to question their allegiance, and neutral powers distanced themselves. The illusion of Greek hegemony faded overnight.

In the weeks and months that followed, the impact was swift and far-reaching. Towns defected or seceded. Once-loyal players left the server altogether, disillusioned by the internal disarray and lack of direction. Even arescartier, a co-founder and symbolic figurehead of the Greek Empire, ultimately stepped away from leadership. His co-king, grantykied, attempted damage control, but was unable to rebuild the shattered coalition. Eventually, he transferred leadership of the nation to the PvP group Noobville, under AJMoody, effectively signaling the end of the original Greek order.

This moment marked the beginning of the Decline of Greece in Version 5 — a fall from grace that would be studied and referenced for versions to come. Once an empire feared and admired, Greece became a cautionary tale of how internal weakness and overreach can destroy even the mightiest of nations.

The Siege of Larissa

The global response to the Siege of Giza was swift and unforgiving. The war was widely condemned, with many viewing it as an unprovoked act of aggression against a culturally and religiously significant town. The defenders of Giza were seen not just as military victors, but as righteous guardians of justice against imperial overreach. Sympathy for the Islamic_Egyptian and Ottoman cause surged.

Outrage over the siege catalyzed a powerful counteroffensive. The nation of MonteNEGRO, supported by the Ottomans, launched the Siege of Larissa—a direct strike against Greek holdings on the mainland. Larissa, situated just outside the capital of Sparta, was a symbolic target. It represented the heartland of Greek power, and its vulnerability showcased how rapidly the tides had turned.

The Siege of Larissa wasn't just a military operation; it was retribution. A coalition that had once feared Greek dominance now turned against it with righteous fury. The defenders of Larissa struggled to mount an effective resistance as cracks in Greek unity widened. For the international community, the siege was seen as justice served. For Greece, it was the latest in a string of humiliations that would cement its decline.